Human social development tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017209796-A1
Application number	US-201615002449-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects relate to human development tools, systems and methods including a body having humanoid features including eyes, a first sensor configured to detect eye contact between a user and the eyes, a feedback device configured to generate an amelioration action, and a control device located within the body, the control device in communication with the first sensor and the feedback device, the control device configured to control the feedback device to generate an amelioration action based on detected eye contact between the user and the eyes.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A human development tool comprising:
a body having humanoid features including eyes; a first sensor configured to detect eye contact between a user and the eyes; a feedback device configured to generate an amelioration action; and a control device located within the body, the control device in communication with the first sensor and the feedback device, the control device configured to control the feedback device to generate an amelioration action based on detected eye contact between the user and the eyes.

2 . The human development tool of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect sensory input of the user.

3 . The human development tool of claim 2 , wherein the sensory input is at least one of an audible sound of the user or a touch of the user.

4 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the body is a body of a doll and the eyes are located in a head of the doll.

5 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is a speaker and wherein the amelioration action comprises words of encouragement or praise.

6 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a processor configured to perform at least one of natural language processing, eye tracking of a user, responsiveness to touch of the user, gesture tracking of the user, amount of eye contact of the user, or facial expressions of the user.

7 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the amelioration action is at least one of speaks words, eyes change colors, eyebrows move to call attention to the eyes, gestures to the eyes, pauses before responding to the user, increases a length of eye contact, ask the user to maintain eye contact, engage the user with specific interests, blink or wink at a controlled rate and speed, or move the eyes.

8 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to provide an incentive when the user looks at the eyes when the user talks to the human development tool and as the human development tool responds.

9 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the control device includes a processor, memory, and a communications adapter, and information collected by the first sensor may be at least one of stored in the memory or transmitted through the communications adapter to a remote device.

10 . The human development tool of claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a processor and memory, the processor configured to learn which actions are most useful for encouraging eye contact of the user.

11 . The human development tool of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor, the first and second sensors configured to detect at least one of eye contact, sounds, or facial expressions.

12 . The human development tool of claim 1 , further comprising an external device in communication with the control device, the external device configured to provide encouraging actions to a user.

13 . A system to aid in human social development, the system comprising:
a body having humanoid features including eyes; a first sensor configured to detect eye contact between a user and the eyes; a feedback device configured to generate an amelioration action; and a control device located within the body, the control device in communication with the first sensor and the feedback device, the control device configured to control the feedback device to generate an amelioration action based on detected eye contact between the user and the eyes, the control device including: a memory having computer readable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions comprising:
receiving, by the processor, sensory information from the first sensor;
determining a threshold detection of eye contact is present; and
controlling the feedback device to generate the amelioration action.

14 . The system claim 13 , the computer readable instructions further comprising recording the received sensory information in the memory.

15 . The system claim 13 , the control device further comprising a communications adapter, the computer readable instructions configured to transmit the received sensory information to an external device.

16 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect sensory input of the user.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the feedback device is a speaker and wherein the amelioration action comprises words of encouragement or praise.

18 . A method of aiding in human social development, the method comprising:
detecting, with a first sensor in a human development tool, sensory input of a user including eye contact data; determining an amelioration action is to be taken with a control device of the human development tool; and performing the amelioration action.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the amelioration action is performed by the human development tool.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising recording the detected sensory input of the user including the eye contact data.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Kim Minkyong
• Pickover Clifford A
• Salapura Valentina
• Vukovic Maja

Classifications

• A63H3/40

  movable · CPC title

• A63H3/003 Primary

  specially adapted for a particular function not connected with dolls (as electric lighting devices A63H3/006) · CPC title

• G09B19/00

  Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass (teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26) · CPC title

• G09B19/003

  Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements · CPC title

• A63H3/28 Primary

  Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds · CPC title